As long as Egbezien Obiomon can remember he wanted to be a member of the Army's Special Forces and play football.

Now the Cypress Woods running back has the chance to do both. Obiomon signed a letter of intent to join Army where he will study economics or operations research after an "easy" recruiting period.

However, the decision to join a service academy wasn't as simple for Obiomon's backfield mate at Cy Woods, Trent Holmes.

Unlike Obiomon, Holmes had to convince his family and himself that Air Force was the right fit for him.

Holmes, who rushed for 549 yards and 6.8 yards per carry, said he enjoyed the candor of the Air Force coaching staff during the recruiting process, the way service academies develop their students as men and women and the future that military service provides.

"At first, I didn't want to sign at a service academy, but after speaking with my family and prayed about it, it was the right decision," Holmes said. "The (Air Force coaches) were the only ones that were consistent and everything they told me was true."

Holmes' mother was a bit tougher to convince.

She had to be assured that he wasn't signing up just to fight in foreign wars – that Holmes would have other options, Holmes said. He does. Holmes said he plans to study either logistics or kinesiology to become a coach.

Cy Woods head coach Trent Faith said Holmes and Obiomon are players who have more on their agenda than football.

"They're well-rounded, have great academics. They have to have goals bigger than football," Faith said.

Holmes and Obiomon are two of nine Houston-area recruits who have decided to make a commitment to both their country and football while continuing their education.

Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said it takes a special type of person to make a commitment to a service academy because players there are juggling more than most student-athletes.

"When you come here there are three components, they're all just as demanding. Kids are all on a four-year track to graduate and there are no gimme classes here," Niumatalolo said. "There's also the football component and the military component. You have to be disciplined, organized – and if you're not, you learn it pretty quickly."

Niumatalolo said the Houston-area is a good place to recruit because the students in Texas are patriotic and receptive to Military service.

Klein Collins head coach Drew Svoboda said it takes a person who has great leadership skills and is willing to persevere to choose a service academy – qualities he said defensive end Seth Scott has always had. Svoboda said Scott has been a leader by example and a player who has never shied away from hard work.

Scott said he chose Air Force for reasons bigger than football.

"The brotherhood and the type of commitment you need to succeed there - the commitment not just to football but also to your teammates," Scott said. "It really sets you up for post-athletic careers and gives you a better starting point than other colleges."